We gave out more than 10,000 sandwiches to feed people when COVID-19 started, and now we’re proud to say that we’ve handed out more than 12,000 masks to help people get back to their lives.
The initiative, in partnership with Sparkt, reached thousands of people in dozens of communities in Allegheny County in neighborhoods north, south, east and west.
“We are excited to continue our COVID-19 relief efforts in Pittsburgh with Sparkt by preparing people of all ages–including kids and the elderly in particular–with masks so they can begin to return to the ‘new normal’ public life that we all face,” said Founder & Managing Partner Eric Chaffin. “The masks are an important first step in helping Pittsburghers ensure that they and their families are protected in public.”
Masks were distributed to recipients of food at three Boys & Girls Club events at City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Housing Authority communities in the city’s Larimer neighborhood, and in Duquesne and Clairton. Many people took masks not only for themselves, but for needy family members and neighbors.
Independent Meals on Wheels organizations in Allegheny County also received masks to distribute to recipients of their meals, as well as to their volunteers. These organizations spanned Allegheny County, from Ross, McCandless, Pine, Bellevue and Avalon to the north, to Coraopolis, Neville Island and Crescent to the west, South Park and Pleasant Hills to the south, and Monroeville, Pitcairn, Wall and Wilmerding to the east.
Additionally, through our partnership, we were able to give away masks at a Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank event at PPG Paints Arena, helping more than 700 families.
In the coming days, we are excited to be announcing continued efforts with the Boys and Girls Clubs, Meals on Wheels, and a new partnership with North Way Christian – a massive non-denominational organization with 7 campuses throughout the Greater Pittsburgh region – who are launching a boxed meal program that will focus on the hardest hit school districts to deliver 1,300 meals to families in need, which will include our mask packages.